This week LWVWA President Karen Crowley sent a letter, co-signed by LWVWA Immigrants Issue Chair Lydia Zepeda and "Welcoming Immigrants to Washington State" study co-author Susan Martin, to WA Gov. Ferguson and Attorney General Brown. 

You can read the letter below.

Dear Gov. Ferguson and Attorney General Brown:

Thank you for your leadership as expressed in your joint statement on Jan. 26 denouncing the ICE operation in Minnesota and preparing for a similar incursion in Washington state.

The League of Women Voters of Washington joins you in supporting action now to protect the rights of immigrants in our state. The national League of Women Voters of the United States issued a statement the same day, condemning “the escalating actions by ICE that put people at risk, deny individuals their constitutional rights, and undermine the democratic values meant to protect us all.”

It went on to say: “The League of Women Voters reaffirms that the rights outlined in the Constitution belong to all people, without exception. We will not accept policies or practices that suppress civic participation, weaponize enforcement, or undermine fundamental rights and human dignity.”

In 2025, LWVWA adopted a position on the rights of immigrants after undertaking an extensive study that addressed the contributions of immigrants as well as the challenges they face. That study, “Welcoming Immigrants to Washington State,” and other efforts demonstrate Washington is clearly a leader in protecting immigrant rights - but we can do more.

In that vein, we appreciate your willingness to fight for just and humane policies through both legislation and action.

As we write, our League is lobbying for enactment of the bills you reference in your statement: SB  5855, SB 5876/HB 2165, and HB 2105/SB 5852 as well as several others we believe will enhance the rights of immigrants. We also support the SAFE Act, which prohibits ICE activity in sensitive areas such as schools, hospitals, and election offices; HB 2648, concerning state and local law enforcement interactions with federal immigration enforcement officials; HB 2632, modernizing terminology when referring to individuals who are not citizens or nationals of the United States; and HB 2105, Immigrant Worker Protection Act.

Additionally, we support legislation that safeguards personal information, creates remedies for violations of federal constitutional rights occurring during immigration enforcement, levies fines on private detention facilities that deny entry to the department of health for an inspection, and mandates divestment of public investment in private detention centers.

We applaud your decision as well to have Sarah Peterson, the chief of the Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance, attend cabinet meetings. In fact, LWVWA’s position on Welcoming Immigrants recommends that Washington state take steps to ensure effective coordination among state agencies and other organizations that interact with immigrants and refugees, including funding to permit such coordination.

We would be pleased to brief you further on the work of LWVWA in protecting the rights of immigrants. Again, thank you for your leadership.

Sincerely,

Karen Crowley, President
for/and
Lydia Zepeda, Ph.D., LWVWA Immigrants Issues Chair, co-author of “Welcoming Immigrants to Washington State”
Susan Martin, Ph.D., co-Author – “Welcoming Immigrants to Washington State”